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dmorrison · #20 11-12-2004, 05:48 PM

Let me get on a soap box for a second here.

One pet peeve that I have is the lousy job that is done training pilots in weather. Now let me justify my statement. I am a Meteorologist and spent 4 years forecasting in the Air Force. And conducting the annual training to the C130 Pilots at Pope AFB, when I was there 1977-1980.
I have been trained by the FAA system while getting my civilian ratings. ATP SEL/MEL DC-9 type rating, CFII, 17,500 hours. And attend USAF Pilot Training. Pilot Training was funny, I actually had to sit in on the "weather class" at UPT even though I was 4 AFSC (Air Force systems command, I.E. your job level) numbers above the instructor. I was certified to teach HIM, but had to fill the square and "complete" the class.
I have been with American Airlines for 20 years and will say that all the programs that I have been thru, are terrible.

The FAA, USAF and Airlines do a lousy job teaching weather. The one thing you spend ALL your time flying in, the atmosphere, and the training is poor.

Weather is difficult to teach, I will admit. Everything in weather is a variable so that makes it hard for students to get a grasp on it. I would hope that they would try to do a better job, but they don't. How many accidents are weather related, the majority.

OK I'll get off my soap box.

kpb
" taking off as a solo student with 7-8kts of wind on the ground only to stay in the pattern and find on final it has kicked up to 18kts, gusts to 22kts at 70-80 degrees "

So I guess the weather briefing about the front coming thru was not very good. Typical FROPA, remember, "frontal passage". Wind direction change and/or speed change. Glad you got down OK

Dave